The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-09
WAS 1T REALLY LOST ?
COL. r. DUDLEY FRAYSER SAYS
1T WAS NOT,
But Appears in its Proper Place
in the Railroad COnsO!i.
dalton Bill.
WHY THE NASHVILLE AGREE.
MENT WAS REJECTED.
Personal Feeling In the Controversy,
as Shown by Mr.. Thomas
Barrett.

OI0fk nArTlb b IhliuT0 10 reply 10 an
inquiry on the subject, was startling.
A reporter, in order to give the other
side Of the question, was dispatched 10
hear the views OF the railway mag
mates. President Napoleon Hill, Of
the Citizens company, being absent
from The city, could not be interviewed
intelligently at "long range" and that
line " ent by default. President Fray.
ser, of the Memphis City, was teen at
his law Office, and at first appeared in
anything but serene state. He led
off with his sentiments as follows:
"That article in the APPEAL this
morning concerning the st. eet Iaili DAD
was evidently written by one ignorant
OF the facts, or by one very anxious to
pervert them"
"There you are in error, colonel, at
least in the latter accusation" replied
the reporter. 81 wrote it, and have
no special or real interest in pervert-
ing facts for oneside or the other"
Your exp anstion ia sufficient"
he said. 81 attributed 1t to another
party, and one whom l know has an
interest in the matter. Anyhow, the
article does Mr.. Hill and myself an in
justice by accusing us of completely in
spiriting away an amendment 10 the
consolidation bill"
The colonel was requested to glance
over that portion of the article COM
planned of second time, with a rehec-
ton that no reasonable man could sup
pose that outsiders were allowed to
tsmper with Legislative proceedings,
and also to the illusions to Mr.. Hill
and himself in the Stockholders meet
ing Saturday, and that feeling OF con-
sure also disappeared. "Now," con-
tinued the reporter, twill you tell me
what you know of the ma! ter p
A pleasant smile crept over the iea
lures OF Col. Frayser as he replied:
"As regards the passage of the bill
allowing street railroads the same
powers Of consolidation rs the steam
railroads, your article reads concern
ing the passage of the bill in the
Hour e-it was called up on its third
reading with no possibility of failure
when Judge Williams arose and
offered and amendment providing
about as follows:
That any railroad companies accepting the
terms of this act should never be permitted
to enter upon any streets, alleys or sidewa ks
without first obtaining the consent of tho
municipal authorities Of cities in which said
railroad companies are lecated.'"
The article further reads, "The
amendment was tackled to the original
bill, concuIred in, and sent over to the
Senate as hurriedly as possible" Now,
no such amendment was offered by
Judge Williams. Judge Williams
offered the following:
Provided further, That nothing contained
in this act shall be construed in any way "a
enlarge or control the rights that towns and
cities now have by existing laws ov0r their
streets, alleys or sidewalks without their
consent.
This amendmentisD now a part of the
bill, and was the only amendment
offered by Judge Williams.
"What is your understanding OF
the agreement"
"The agreement that was signed in
Nashville by Presidents Hill and
Frayser and Hon. D. p. Hadden,
president of the Tsxipg District, was
10 be approved by the Taxing Dis riot
government, aud was subject to the
ratification Of the boards Of direct
of the respective street railroads. This
left the agreement to be approved or
not by the Taxing District govern
ment, and o be ratified or not by the
directors OF the street railroad com.
nantad NnaHa nj tnlV IN
that, until approved by the one and
ratified by the other, the agreement
was not to be binding upon either OF
the parties signing it,"
"Do you understand why Chief
Clerk Harris, of the Senate, failed to
answer the letter Of Mr.. Pullen on the
subjec. ?"
81 do not. As to Mr.. Pullen writ
ing to the officials Ct the State con-
corning the supposed Williams
amendment it was a stretch of curios-
ity on his part, unless bis duties as
secretary Of the Board OF Police and
Fire Commissioners calls upon him to
look after the passage Of laws by the
Leg stature or he means 10 reflect on
the conduct OF Mr.. Hill or Col.
Frayser, and II he intimates the latter
let him be outspoken and plain"
"Why did you carry the agreement
to your stockholders, instead of to the
directors, as specified in the docu.
ment? Was not that a violation Of
its terms?"
"In one sense, yes; and yet it was
done to have the instrument rat fed.
Shortly after returning from Nashville
our force OF workmen were engaged
in track laying and repairing on Her
nsndo street. Mr.. MADDEN had the
work stopped and the men driven
away. Some Of the directors, on be-
coming familiar with the fac's, swore
roundly that they would never ratify
the agreement, but fight it out in the
courts. / felt core over it myself, but
was revert elees anxious to have the
matter settled. To overcome the
mel ace to its success, suggested that
it DO carried to the fountain head /
our authority, and perhaps they would
authorize its acceptance. This was
done, and both Mr.. Hill and myself
did all in our power to bring abodt
ratification. The stockholders were
determined, and the result is known"
"The city authorities have received
no official notification, have they p
"Not yet. The stock no deIs' meet
ing was not directors meeting, but
merely advisory. The directors will
follow in the footsteps already made
as soon as convenient, and from them
the city will receive notice"
This ended the chat with Col. Frey
ser, and the reporter sought
Mr.. THOMAS BARRETT,
vice president and general manager of
the Memphis City Railroad Company.
He had nothing to say about the law
points raise d, referring them to Col.
Frsyser. On the general policy OF
Mr.. Hadden toward his Company, he
was fully outspnken. .
81 have no desire to run against
Mr. MADDEN or see him putiU J III, but
feel that he is unconscious per5ec1t-
ing US Notwithstanding this een.i'
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